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Bladder Cancer

Urologic Surgeons of Arizona

Urologists located in Mesa, AZ & Chandler, AZ

Bladder cancer is more common than you might think. It’s the fourth most common cancer in men, causing around 18,000 deaths every year in the United States. While bladder cancer is undoubtedly frightening, the encouraging news is that Urologic Surgeons of Arizona in Mesa and Chandler, Arizona, offer the most advanced, proven bladder cancer treatments available. Our providers are specialists in urinary cancer and are one of the few surgeons in Arizona that offer robotic cystectomy. Call the office or make an appointment online for bladder cancer treatment.

Bladder Cancer Q & A

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is cancer affecting your bladder, the small pelvic organ that stores urine before it exits through your urethra. Your bladder lining has an inner cell layer known as the urothelium.

When your urothelial cells start growing abnormally and changing shape, they create a cancerous tumor. This is known as transitional cell carcinoma or urothelial carcinoma. 

This tumor can spread to other parts of your urinary tract and body if you don't get treatment. Bladder cancer can also develop in squamous cells, glandular cells, fat layer, or muscle layer.

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?

The most common symptom is hematuria — blood in your urine. You could also experience pain when you urinate, increased urinary frequency, and inability to pass urine along with other urinary symptoms.

Because bladder cancer symptoms can mimic other conditions like enlarged prostate, it's crucial to get an evaluation and care at Urologic Surgeons of Arizona as soon as possible.

What is the best treatment for bladder cancer?

Treatment depends on your circumstances. Our providers perform diagnostic procedures like cystoscopy, bladder biopsy, and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to identify bladder cancer and plan your treatment. 

He's a renowned surgeon with many years of experience with minimally invasive surgical techniques for bladder cancer.

TURBT

TURBT is an endoscopic treatment during which our provider sidentifies, stages, and treats visible bladder tumors. TURBT can determine if the bladder cancer has moved into your muscle wall. It's usually an outpatient treatment, done under anesthesia.

Intravesical chemotherapy

Our providers sometimes use intravesical chemotherapy after removing a bladder tumor. BCG, the most common medication for this kind of chemotherapy, is about 85% effective in preventing the tumor from coming back. It's an outpatient procedure requiring a local anesthetic.

Robotic radical cystectomy

Our providers are robotic radical cystectomy experts, one of a very select number in Arizona. He uses the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System from Intuitive® for this surgery. A robotic radical cystectomy removes your entire bladder and the regional lymph nodes to make every effort to completely remove or destroy all cancerous tissue.

If bladder cancer invades your muscle wall, a robotic radical cystectomy is often the best solution. During this procedure, our providers make a small incision and inflate your abdomen with gas. He does by directing highly precise robotic arms with pinpoint accuracy. 

Robotic surgery allows unparalleled precision and flexibility while reducing incision size, bleeding, recovery time, and surgical complications.

Our providers treat your bladder cancer using the most effective techniques, always focusing on the most advanced yet minimally invasive treatments available. Book your appointment by calling Urologic Surgeons of Arizona or scheduling online now.